The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-11-02
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CAUSES A FRIGHTFUL EN-.
PLOSI0N AT ST. LOUIS.
An Entire Building Blown Up and
all the Occupants,
Numbering Seventeen Persons,
Buried in the Ruins.
A Torrible Story Of Death and
Confusion.
= 4 ~
Eight Persons Killed and Severa
, Fatally Injured.

ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Nov. la fash, fol.
lowed BY dull roar, and then the crash
Of walls, convulaed the centre Of the city
at 2:3D this morning and the clamor that
followed carried tho rumor OF horrible
calamity that had bsiallen three families
while wrapped in slumber. An explosion
OF sasoiils ip tho rear Of the cellar Of
Michael Newman's gr1cesy atoro, No. 13
South Fourteenth elroet, had lifted a two
etory building from Its foundation and
dropped 1t BACK r;ein in a mass beneath
which seventeen peiponu wsTo buried.
They we're Michael Newman, escd 80
years. Mrs. Annie Sowmau, aged 40 years !;
Miss Msmie Newman, saod 10 years. John
Newman, aged IL years Miss hollis New.
man, oged Is years Charles Dsvers, the
well-known circus agsnt; Mrs. Charles
Dsvere; Miss Hattie Brown, Of Oolumbu,,
KY; Charles Eilerd; Mias Patty Bryant;
Mrs. Beaalsy, and several q!hsra. The
messenger Of death scarcely wrecked The
place before devastating fire swept
through the ruins and seemed bent on In.
isrnal work. Humsn aid was quickly on
:hs scene, but iu such confusion that the
horror inarssssl With the efforts to relieve
the Imprisoned victims. The neopls in
the neighborhood, many bruiaad and none
in :.heir normal state, rapted about the
streets, iaeking friends, demanding ex.
plantations, or moaning from bruises.
The shost Of lnle tnaths sd swooped down
upon the rrins and bstll I'd the efforts o.
the aremen, for = lev minutes bsde fair to
spread into the adjoining properly. Ict
good work won, and then began the
sssrch for the dead. The store was on
tho corner OF the alley running through
from Fourteenth to Fargee strsstn, and
was the north room oi the Building cover
ing Nos. Z, 9snd II South Fourteenth I!reet.
Tbs building, a two story brick, was COM
pleted but short time ego, and only one
store room WAS occupied. All OF the up.
stAi:s portion was occupied as tenement.
Mr.. EeNEsn aud bis family OF seven
lived over the stsfa. The force of the ex.
ploBion Was terrific, tia enats Elock of
buildings north Of and across ths alley
from The building in which the explosion
took place wefa sf.ss.''
GUfTED DY TIE ELAsr.
The Newman block cruehsd in wa2
covered by the roof, which had settled
down upon the ruins End forged . bar.
rier through which the rescuers had to
cut away beams and walls, impedsd pro.
gress, and threatening walls on other side
overhead were ready to crush tho gallant
men who pressed to the spot where cslls for
help directed them. Tne roof wss socn
removed and In the debris were revealed
tho msngled forms CT the gropc.yman's g
family. Two ladies, Eewman'o daughters,
were first removed. Manic, 10 yeare OF
age, wRs still alive, but manSlsd from the
timbers and charred by fire, was beyond
the hope OF recovery. Her nster Nellie, q
girl OF l5 years, moansd piteousy for her
sister, ,andlseemed to forgot her own desper-
nte in; aries in mournful irquiries ior her
sister. For the half hour that thess two
had been ilnprIHcnad, their efforts had
been to draw near to each. other when
they cav escape m2oasiblo. Neither can
recover. Tina rest OF, the Newman family
were dead. Some .ss upright nnd Others
were doubled up In their beds. Life had
evidently tlsd while they were wrapped
in slumber. "a
In tho ssme building over storeroom
No. 0, lived Charles layere, q travelling
man, and his wife. Visiting them e &C
Mics Hattie Brown, OF Columbus, Ky.
She was badly injured, bat miraculousiy
escaped deaih, the only peypon who
passed through the horrible ordeal aud
livea to tell the glory OF eecapc. She
awoke to fnd herself burned bsaeath
hoavy timbers. She is unable to tell
whcse she vas thrown, but when her
eyes opened she beheld a thrilling scene
that had all the effects Of a horrible
dream. On ono aide wall Of Gre reached
to the sky, while tho crashing timbers
aud tto clatter OF iion cansed sto.m OF
dangerous nissiles to fly about. The
screams of thoso In the adjoining build
ings rang in 'har ears, aud ~ she realia ID
her situation abe slmost tainted, but
nerved to last desperate strl3sls by the
groans Of tho dying, she essaysd to esespe,
but found her e8or.s bs Ill id ut every turn.
She was firmly pinned by beam avrcea
her thigh and an iron rod over one ankle
She coald not tell what means. she ena.
ployed 10 get ont, but IS she twisted and
struggled in vain the 1lre waa blown
ItggRrdB her until her long black trcaset
| Niere ue6rehed and the odor of burning
| -. ~ rat. Lav i,,,nr !. , IA H..